Anti-CD209a Monoclonal antibody, clone NNE4 [eFluor® 660]

Objective: Dendritic cells (DCs) are members of the mammalian immune system and are considered to be the most powerful antigen presenting cells. They are responsible for the induction of T-cells or T-cell dependent immunity and tolerance. In this study we have investigated the effect of different serum supplements on generation and yield of mature dendritic cells isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Methods: Three different serum supplements (10% Fetal Bovine Serum, 1% Human Serum Albumin and 1% autologous serum) were compared with serum-free media to identify the role and importance of serum supplements on DC cultivation. Effect of different media on maturation signs (CD40, CD80, CD86, CD209a) and cytokine release (TNF-alpha, IL-10, IL-12, IL-6) was examined. Results: DCs generated in serum-free media was similar to those of cells in medium with autologous serum. Few dendritic-like cells were observed in fetal bovine serum and human serum albumin. The effect of different media on maturation of DCs was compared phenotypically and increased expression of CD80, CD86 and CD209a identified maturation and yield of DCs. Conclusion: Our results suggest that serum free media can be used to overcome potential drawbacks associated with different serum containing supplements.

The efficacy of vaccination studies aimed at targeting antigens to human DC-SIGN (hDC-SIGN) have been notoriously difficult to study in vivo, as eight dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3 grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN) homologs have been described in mice. CD209a/SIGNR5 has been coined as the mouse DC-SIGN (mDC-SIGN) ortholog, based on its expression and location in the genome. Nonetheless, which properties of hDC-SIGN are covered by mDC-SIGN is poorly investigated. One of the most important functions of DC-SIGN is the induction of adaptive immunity. As such, the aim of this study is to determine the capability of mDC-SIGN to induce adaptive immune responses. Here, we show that mDC-SIGN is expressed on GM-CSF cultured bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) and macrophages. However, mDC-SIGN is an internalizing receptor which, unlike hDC-SIGN, quickly resurfaces after internalization. Binding of OVA-coupled anti-mDC-SIGN antibody by BMDCs leads to quick internalization, processing, and presentation to antigen-specific CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells, which can be boosted using the TLR4 ligand, monophosphoryl lipid A. In the homeostatic condition, mDC-SIGN is mostly expressed on myeloid cells in the skin and spleen. A subcutaneous injection of fluorescent anti-mDC-SIGN reveals specific targeting to mDC-SIGN(+) skin dendritic cells (DCs) and monocyte-derived DCs in situ. A subcutaneous vaccination strategy containing OVA-coupled anti-mDC-SIGN antibody generated antigen-specific polyfunctional CD8(+) T cell and CD4(+) T cell responses and a strong isotype-switched OVA-specific antibody response in vivo. We conclude that mDC-SIGN shows partly overlapping similarities to hDC-SIGN and that targeting mDC-SIGN provides a valuable approach to investigate the immunological function of DC-SIGN in vivo.